Animal Cakes

The Brave Astronaut Clan is staying put for Easter this year (although LBA will have some Nana time this week - he's off for the entire week)

There is an excellent chance that we will have lamb for dinner (no ham for the Brave Astronaut - although Mom's Ham and Turkey Pie was always welcome)

At a previous point in my life, I used to enjoy lamb cake for dessert on Easter.  I knew someone who had a lamb mold and she would make a lamb cake, usually a yellow cake, frosted in white icing.  It was pretty yummy.  I was intrigued when seeing this post on BuzzFeed, with "amazing and crazy animal cakes.  The lamb cake I used to enjoy was nowhere as intricate as this one.  I will point out these recipes come from the Devil Goddess of the Kitchen, of whom I am not a big fan - so I will likely not be pressing anyone to make these for me.

Happy Easter!

Lamb Cake Recipe
Serves 8 to 10
You will need an eight-cup-capacity 3-D lamb cake pan from Nordic Ware. 

INGREDIENTS

• Unsalted butter, room temperature, for molds 
• 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus more for molds 
• 1 2/3 cups sugar 
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder 
• 3/4 teaspoon salt 
• 1 large whole egg plus 1 large egg yolk 
• 3/4 cup warm water 
• 1 cup buttermilk 
• 1/2 cup canola or safflower oil 
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 
• 1/2 cup seedless blackberry or raspberry jam 
• 2 recipes Swiss Meringue Buttercream (white chocolate variation, recipe below) 
• Gel-paste food coloring in brown and yellow 
• 1 pound white chocolate, chopped 

PREPARATION

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter both halves of an 8-cup lamb-shaped cake mold. Dust with flour, tapping out excess. 
2. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Add whole egg, yolk, the water, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla. With an electric mixer on medium speed, beat until smooth.
3. Divide batter between halves of molds. Bake until a cake tester comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Transfer molds to wire racks to cool 30 minutes. Turn out cakes onto racks to cool completely. 
4. With a serrated knife, trim flat side of each half. Trim excess from edges, if necessary. Cover flat side of 1 cake with jam. Turn halves upright; stick together.
5. Tint 1/2 cup buttercream brown. Tint remaining buttercream pale yellow to match color of white chocolate. Spread a thin layer of pale yellow buttercream over cake to form a crumb coat. Refrigerate until frosting is firm, about 30 minutes. Spread a second layer of buttercream over cake, smoothing around head with an offset spatula. 
6. Melt white chocolate, stirring, in a heatproof bowl set over (not in) a pan of simmering water. Turn off heat; let cool slightly. Spread one-quarter of the chocolate over back of a rimmed baking sheet. Refrigerate until just starting to set, about 15 minutes. Holding a bench scraper at a 45-degree angle, scrape chocolate into 1/2-inch-wide curls. (If chocolate breaks, let it stand to warm slightly. If chocolate is too soft, refrigerate until just starting to set.) As you work, transfer curls to a rimmed baking sheet. Refrigerate curls until firm. Repeat with remaining chocolate. Store at room temperature in an airtight container, between layers of parchment, up to 3 days.
7. Cover frosted cake, except for head, with chocolate curls. Fill a pastry bag fitted with a small plain round tip, such as #2, with brown buttercream; pipe eyes and mouth. Cake can be refrigerated up to 2 days; let stand at room temperature 20 minutes before serving.

Artichoke-Lemon Dip

I am a fan of artichokes (though I like mine raw, with a mayonnaise dipping sauce), lemons, and when you put them together in a dip?  Well step aside, I'm coming in with some pita chips.  Recipe from Simply Recipes.

Artichoke Lemon Dip
by Simply Recipes

Creamy artichoke dip made with artichoke hearts, Parmesan cheese, lemon, parsley, garlic, and cream cheese.
Prep time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 14-ounce (400 g) can of artichoke hearts, packed in water, drained 
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley 
• 1/4 cup (25 g), packed, grated Parmesan cheese 
• 1 Tbsp lemon zest 
• 1 clove garlic, minced (about 1 teaspoon) 
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh black pepper 
• 1/4 teaspoon salt 
• 8 ounces (225 g) cream cheese, room temperature 
• 3 to 4 Tbsp lemon juice 

Method

1. Put the drained artichoke hearts, parsley, Parmesan, lemon zest, garlic, and salt and pepper in a food processor. Pulse a few times until a paste forms. You should still be able to make out bits of parsley and lemon, so don't over-process it. 
2. Place the cream cheese in a medium sized bowl. Add the artichoke parsley mixture and the lemon juice. Stir until well blended. Add more salt, pepper, and lemon juice to taste. Garnish with a few fresh leaves of parsley or ribbons of lemon zest. 

Yield: Makes about 2 cups of dip.

Day 5: Vegetarian Pasta Carbonara with Brussels Sprouts and Lemon Zest

Vegetarian Pasta Carbonara with Brussels Sprouts and Lemon Zest
Serves 2
ACTIVE TIME: 30 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 30 minutes

INGREDIENTS

• 4-5 Brussels sprouts 
• Zest of 1 lemon 
• 5 ounces orecchiette 
• 1 large egg, room temperature 
• 1/2 cup mozzarella 
• Kosher salt 

PREPARATION
Set a pot of salted water on to boil. (It should be salty enough that it tastes like the ocean.)

Meanwhile, heat olive oil over medium heat, add Brussels sprouts and a little salt, and sauté until bright green, fragrant and tender, 3-4 minutes. Set aside.

Cook pasta in boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup pasta cooking liquid.

Whisk egg and mozzarella in medium bowl to blend; gradually whisk in a spoonful of pasta cooking liquid. Add pasta to Brussels sprouts in skillet and stir to heat. Remove skillet from heat. First make sure the skillet isn't so hot that it will scramble the eggs, then pour egg mixture over pasta and stir until sauce is just creamy and eggs are no longer raw, about 2 minutes. (Return skillet to very low heat if egg mixture is runny; do not overcook or eggs will scramble.) Add some of remaining pasta cooking liquid to pasta if needed to moisten.

Day 4: Baked Eggs with Spinach, Bacon, and Caramelized Onions

Baked Eggs with Spinach, Bacon, and Caramelized Onions
Serves 2
ACTIVE TIME: 20 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 45 minutes

Note: You will need 1-cup ramekins to make this recipe (as pictured above), but if you don't have them you could probably use a ceramic coffee cup.

INGREDIENTS

• 3 slices of bacon 
• 3-4 cups spinach 
• Sourdough loaf, toasted 
• 2 large eggs 
• 1/3 cup of caramelized onions 
• Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper 

PREPARATION
Preheat oven to 400°F. Cook bacon in large skillet over medium heat until crisp; transfer to paper towels. Pour off drippings from skillet; reserve drippings. Add spinach to pan, sprinkle with salt, and toss over medium heat, 2 minutes. Transfer to strainer set over bowl to drain. Brush two 1-cup ramekins with drippings. Crumble bacon. Slice off two slices of sourdough loaf about 1" thick. Trim them to place them in the bottom of the ramekins. Divide spinach and caramelized onions among ramekins, then sprinkle bacon over, dividing equally. With back of spoon, shape well in center of each ramekin. Gently crack 1 egg into well in each ramekin, keeping yolk intact. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place ramekins on a baking sheet for easy handling, then put into the oven and bake until whites are just set but yolks are still runny, 16-18 minutes.

Day 3: Bacon and Brussels Sprout “Pizzas”

Bacon and Brussels Sprout “Pizzas”
Serves 2
ACTIVE TIME: 45 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 45 minutes

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tablespoon olive oil 
• 1 large yellow onion, halved lengthwise, thinly sliced crosswise 
• 4 slices of bacon cut into 1/2" pieces 
• 1 loaf of sourdough bread 
• 4 Brussels sprouts, halved and sliced thinly crosswise 
• 1 cup of shredded mozzarella 
• Kosher salt

PREPARATION
Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Add onions and sauté over low heat, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 45 minutes. (You don't necessarily have to go that long. You can crank up the heat and stir more often. But the longer / lower the heat, the more flavor they will develop.)

Slice off four pieces of bread about 1" thick. Set bread on a baking sheet and sprinkle with most of the cheese (reserving some cheese to sprinkle on top later). Preheat oven to 400°F. Cook bacon in a separate small medium-sized skillet over medium heat until it's crisp and looks flavorful — about 7 minutes. Transfer bacon to a paper towel and pour off all but 1 tablespoon grease. Sauté Brussels sprouts in bacon grease — as they're cooking, season them with a little salt. Cook until they are bright green and fragrant, about 3 minutes. Pile caramelized onions, bacon and Brussels sprouts onto the cheese on the bread, then top with remaining cheese. Sprinkle on a little salt and bake 8-10 minutes.

Day 2: Mixed Greens with Shredded Chicken, Peaches, Tomatoes, and Lemon-Yogurt Dressing

Day 2:  Mixed Greens with Shredded Chicken, Peaches, Tomatoes, and Lemon-Yogurt Dressing

Serves 2
ACTIVE TIME: 40 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 40 minutes

INGREDIENTS

• Chicken
• 2 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs and legs
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper 
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 
• Salad 
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 
• 1/3 cup Greek yogurt 
• 1 5-ounce package mixed greens 
• 4-6 grape tomatoes, sliced in half 
• 1 large peach, halved, pitted, sliced 
• Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper 

PREPARATION - Chicken
Preheat oven to 475°F. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a 12" cast-iron or heavy nonstick skillet over high heat until hot but not smoking. Nestle chicken in skillet, skin side down, and cook 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-high; continue cooking the thighs skin side down, occasionally flipping the legs to brown all the sides. Occasionally rearrange the legs and thighs and rotate the pan to evenly distribute heat, until fat renders and skin is golden brown, about 12 minutes.

Transfer skillet to oven and cook 13 more minutes, rotating the legs half way through. Flip the thighs and rotate the legs; continue cooking until skin crisps and meat is cooked through, about 5 minutes longer. Transfer to a plate; let rest 5 minutes before serving.

Salad
Whisk first 2 ingredients and a little (1 teaspoon) water in small bowl to blend. Add more water by teaspoonfuls if dressing is too thick. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Place greens in large bowl. Add half of dressing and toss to coat.

Divide greens among plates. Scatter chicken, sliced tomatoes and peach slices over both servings. Drizzle with remaining dressing.

Dinner for the Week Ahead

Several weeks ago, I saw this post on BuzzFeed, which offered 5 perfect meals for $10 each.  Viola! Dinner for the entire week!  Breaking with tradition (and because it gets five posts instead of the traditional one), I will post each recipe from the post individually.  Today, is the intro and the first recipe, Roast Chicken Breasts with Garbanzo Beans, Tomatoes, and Paprika with Sauteed Spinach and Greek Yogurt. All of which sound delicious.

Tuesday: Mixed Greens with Shredded Chicken, Peaches, Tomatoes, and Lemon-Yogurt Dressing
Wednesday: Bacon and Brussels Sprout “Pizzas”
Thursday: Baked Eggs with Spinach, Bacon, and Caramelized Onions
Friday: Vegetarian Pasta Carbonara with Brussels Sprouts and Lemon Zest

Here are five dinners, each serving two people, that you can make for under $50 from a single grocery list. A few notes:

1. The first thing you're going to do is break down a whole raw chicken. You'll roast the breasts on Day 1 and then you'll roast the legs and thighs on Day 2. Buying the chicken whole helps keep costs down and is generally a good thing to know how to do. Use our video (below) and a sharp knife and you'll be all set. 
2. The salad on Day 3 might benefit from leftover chickpeas (Day 1) if you have them, and you can use something other than a peach if that's not in season in your neck of the woods.
3. On Day 3 you'll be asked to caramelize onions. This is one of those, "throw them on the burner right when you get home from work and let them sit there for 45 minutes as you unwind" kind of things. You can rush it, and the recipe will show you how. But caramelizing a big batch of onions to use in multiple meals throughout the week is a great work-week cooking hack. 
4. Store your sourdough loaf at room temperature — it's okay if it's not super fresh by Day 3 and 4, because you'll be toasting it by then.

Here's the Grocery List:

• Fresh Produce 
• large yellow onion, $.81 
• grape tomatoes, 1 pint, $2.99 
• mixed greens, 1 5-ounce package, $3.99 
• bagged spinach, 1 9-oz bag, $2.99 
• 9 Brussels sprouts, $3.99 
• 2 lemons, $1 
• 1 peach, $.61 
• head of garlic, $.61 
• Meat/Poultry 
• 1 whole chicken, $9.16 
• bacon, 1 lb, $2.99 
• Dairy 
• 1 6-oz bag of shredded mozarella, $3.50 
• 1 6-oz container of Greek yogurt, $1.79 
• ½ dozen eggs, $1.19 
• Dried/Canned/Spices 
• 1 16 oz package of orecchiette or shell pasta, $1.79 
• 1 15 oz can garbanzo beans (a.k.a. chickpeas), $.80 
• 1 oz. paprika, $2.69 
• 1 oz. cumin, $2.99 
• loaf of sourdough bread, $2.99 
• Oils/Vinegars 
• 1 24-oz bottle vegetable oil, $2.99 
• Pssst: We’re assuming you have: 
• kosher salt
• fresh ground black pepper 
• olive oil 

TOTAL: 50.37*
*based on prices at a Key Food grocery store in NYC's East Village

Day 1: Roast Chicken Breasts with Garbanzo Beans, Tomatoes, and Paprika with Sauteed Spinach and Greek Yogurt
Recipe adapted from Bon Appétit
Serves 2
ACTIVE TIME: 30 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 50 minutes

INGREDIENTS

• 1/4 cup + 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 
• 2 garlic cloves, minced and divided into two piles 
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika 
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• ⅓ cup Greek yogurt 
• 2 bone-in chicken breast halves 
• 1 15-ounce can garbanzo beans 
• 14 (or so) grape tomatoes 
• 6 packed cups of spinach (use about ¾ of your 9-oz bag) 
• Kosher salt
• A hunk of sourdough bread 

PREPARATION
Preheat oven to 450°. Measure and set out all of your ingredients. Mix 1/4 cup olive oil, half the garlic (one of the minced cloves), paprika, and cumin in medium bowl (you want the bowl to be big-ish because you will add stuff to it later). Pour 1 teaspoon of that spiced oil mixture into a small bowl; whisk in yogurt and set aside to use as a sauce. Place chicken on large rimmed baking sheet. Rub 2 tablespoons spiced oil mixture over chicken. Add beans and tomatoes to remaining spiced oil mixture; toss to coat. Pour bean mixture around chicken. Sprinkle everything generously with salt and pepper.

Roast until chicken is cooked through, about 20 minutes.

When the chicken has been in the oven about 15 minutes, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat in a large sauté pan. Add spinach and sauté until just beginning to wilt (about 3 minutes). Push the spinach to one side, add a little more olive oil and then add garlic. Stir together garlic and spinach and season with salt. Transfer chicken and spinach to plates. Spoon bean mixture over. Serve with yogurt sauce.

"Previously on The West Wing"

I am a huge fan of the West Wing, the NBC series.  This year for Christmas, LBA got a Kindle Fire (he really wanted a Nintendo DS, but Mrs. BA and I opted for the Kindle, with the hopes that he would read more than play - which for the most part he has).  The Kindle Fire came with a free month of Amazon Prime, with which I spent most of that month rewatching the entire series of episodes on Prime for free.  I got almost through the entire series, save a few episodes in season 7.

Then of course, after I purchased the last few episodes I didn't get to see, the show is now available for free on Netflix Streaming.  So I'm slowly making my way through it . . . again.  The release on Netflix also prompted two posts, both on BuzzFeed, the first with "18 Things the West Wing Got Wrong" and the other with a list of the "10 Best West Wing Episodes."

18 Things the West Wing Got Wrong

1. In the pilot episode - one of the Christian fundamentalists states the First of the Ten Commandments is "Honor Thy Father" - Toby responds that it is actually the Third Commandment - however it's actually the Fifth Commandment - although in Roman Catholicism and Lutheranism is it the 4th commandment.
2. In one episode Josh mentions that Schubert was crazy - although he was never diagnosed with any mental illness.  Robert Schumann, however, spent many of his later years in and out of asylums.
3. In a scene in the Oval Office with Admiral Fitzwallace and the President, they have a discussion about the Presidential Seal (in the rug).  Fitzwallace points out that in most cases the eagle faces the olive branch, yet in times of war the eagle faces the arrows. In actuality, the seal was redesigned in 1945 to point to its right and the olive branch. Prior to that, the eagle pointed to its left, and the arrows. The reason for the change was that in heraldry, left pointing items were considered dishonorable.
4. The President has a conversation with Toby in which he declares, "You know what I just found out recently?  To be called bourbon it has to come from Kentucky, otherwise it's called sour mash."  Although, the only geographic qualification is that bourbon is made in the United States, not any specific state. There are 8 non-geographic criteria for something to qualify as bourbon, including recipe ratios, the barrel, and aging.
5. When the MS story takes center stage (in Season 3), there is a chess set shown in Oliver Babish's office.  The chess set is set up incorrectly. The lower right corner square should be a light square, not a dark one. Also, the kings and queens are reversed.
6. In the Thanksgiving episode, The Indians in the Lobby, where President Bartlet calls the Butterball Hotline, they need to quickly produce the zip code for Fargo, North Dakota, saying it is 50504. That is not one of the 14 zip codes for Fargo, North Dakota.
7. Toby makes a reference to a quote, "There's an old Roman expression, when the gods wish to punish us, they answer our prayers." The quote is not from the Romans but from Irish novelist Oscar Wilde in his 1893 book "An Ideal Husband."
8. In the episode where Bartlet plays chess with several of the staff (at the same time), Toby makes his opening move in a game with the President, who declares, "Ah, the Evans Gambit." President Bartlet would not be able to recognize The Evans Gambit after just one move. It would require three moves to recognize The Evans Gambit.
9. In the episode where one of the subplots revolves around Donna's desire to gain recognition for her high school English teacher - resulting in the President calling to talk with her on the phone - and he asks her about Beowulf and the language in which she taught it - "Beowulf" was written in Old English in the 8th century. The language wouldn't evolve to the form now known as Middle English for another 300 years.
10.  Leo and Josh have a conversation where Leo remarks about the millions of dollars spent by the United States to invent a pen for the astronauts, while the Russians just used a pencil.  Actually, the astronauts used a pencil, too. The Fisher Space Pen was developed privately with no funds from the US government.
11. In the episode involving President Bartlet's reelection, Josh comments that it is raining in Oregon.  Don't worry about it. Oregon passed Ballot Measure 60 in 1998. Since then, Oregonians have been voting exclusively with mail-in ballots.
12. When Toby and Will Bailey are working on Bartlet's Second Inaugural Address, Toby says that "there's an incredible history to second inaugurals, 'fear itself, Lincoln . . .' " - FDR used the line "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself" in his first inaugural address, not his second.
13. In "Angel Maintenance," where Air Force One develops a problem, Josh remarks about the fuel used on Air Force One and it's fuel to octane ratio. Water doesn't mix with jet fuel. Water contamination is a serious problem for jet fuel. Also, jet fuel does not have an octane rating. Octane ratings are only used for internal combustion engines.
14. Intern Ryan Pierce mentions that he is a descendant of President Franklin Pierce.  Not possible,  Pierce, the 14th President of the United States, never had a son live past 11 years old.
15. In Season 7, several of the characters turn on the TV to see a news story about a woman being sentenced to death for adultery in Turkey. Adultery is not a crime in Turkey. Turkey has also outlawed the death penalty (except in times of war).
16. In the plot arc about the failure at the International Space Station, in actuality a Russian Soyuz TMA spaceship is always docked to the International Space Station. It is capable of carrying three men and reentering the atmosphere.
17. In another episode, C.J. works behind the scenes to try and secure a resolution in the United Nations Security Council, from Germany.  However, Germany is not a member of the UN security council.
18. In the final episode, Abbey Bartlet mentions that it is going to be so cold, who decided that January was the best time to hold an outdoor ceremony?  The President replies wistfully, Jefferson, Adams, Franklin . . .  but the drafters of the Constitution that President Bartlet mentions, originally chose March 4th for Inauguration Day. It was changed to January 20th by the 22nd Amendment which was ratified January 23, 1933.

BuzzFeed's Top Twenty West Wing Episodes (and my own):

1. Two Cathedrals 
2. In Excelsis Deo (not one of my favorite Christmas-themed episodes)
3. Game On (the debate episode with Republican Robert Ritchie / James Brolin)
4. Celestial Navigation (where Josh narrates the episode - Corcoran Gallery of Art cameo!)
5. Posse Comitatus (in which they take down Sharif)
6. In the Shadow of Two Gunmen, Parts I and II (also on my list, I like them for the flashbacks and the filling in of the backstory.)
7. Let Bartlet Be Bartlet (also one of my favorites - "This is more important than reelection, I want to speak now!")
8. Shutdown (as a government employee currently living in the shadow of sequester - this is also on my list)
9. Take This Sabbath Day
10. Pilot (also on my list)

Their next ten:  "Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics" (Season 1, Episode 21); "In This White House" (Season 2, Episode 4); "Shibboleth" (Season 2, Episode 8) - one of my favorites; "Noël" (Season 2, Episode 10) - possibly my most favorite episode; "Somebody's Going to Emergency, Somebody's Going to Jail" (Season 2, Episode 16); "The Stackhouse Filibuster" (Season 2, Episode 17); "Bartlet for America" (Season 3, Episode 9); "Twenty Five" (Season 4, Episode 23) - not on my list, the set of episodes dealing with Zoey's kidnapping does not do it for me; "2162 Votes" (Season 6, Episode 22) - I love this episode for the moment when Josh tells a surprised Leo they have picked him to be the VP nominee; "Tomorrow" (Season 7, Episode 22) - it's of course the last episode, but it was very well done and the right way for the show to go out.

My Other Favorite Episodes:

1. The Midterms - "In this building when the President stands, nobody sits!" (when the President dresses down the "Dr. Laura" character with the biblical quotations)
2. He Shall From Time to Time - "You got a best friend?  Is he smarter than you?  Would you trust him with your life?  That's your Chief of Staff."
3. Lord John Marbury - "I thought you were the butler!" (the episodes with Marbury are some of the funniest).
4. Election Day (Parts 1 and 2) - finally, Josh and Donna.
5. The Supremes (Glenn Close for Chief Justice!)
6. Gaza (although it features the death of Percy Fitzwallace and the near death of Donna, it's a very powerful episode)
7. 20 Hours in America (Parts I and II) - Josh, Toby, and Donna get stuck in Indiana but come up with an idea for tax deductible college tuition.
8. Manchester (Parts I and II) - again, a favorite for the flashbacks that fill in some backstory.

Chicken Cacciatore

So it appears that we are finally going to get some appreciable snow here in Brave Astronaut Land.  Can we please just make sure that it's enough so no one has to go anywhere?  OK, thanks,

Here's a "stick to your ribs" recipe that will help with the cold and snow.  My mother used to make "chicken cacciatore" but it was basically just chicken pieces braised and cooked in spaghetti sauce.  But it was good stuff.

Chicken Cacciatore
(from Simply Recipes)

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour, 10 minutes

This recipe calls for added wine, which is traditional. It does add to the flavor. If you have a dietary restriction that prohibits wine, just omit.


Ingredients

• One 4 pound chicken, cut into serving pieces, trimmed of excess fat (or 3 1/2 to 4 pounds of chicken thighs, bone in, skin on)
• Salt
• 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 medium onion, thinly sliced root to tip, about 1 1/2 cups 
• 1 red or green bell pepper, seeded, sliced into 1/4-inch wide slices
• 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, thickly sliced 
• 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 
• 1/3 cup white or red wine 
• 2 1/2 to 3 cups peeled and chopped, firm ripe tomatoes, with their juices, or 1 28 ounce can of plum tomatoes in their juice 
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 
• 1 teaspoon dry thyme (or 2 teaspoons fresh, chopped)
• 1 teaspoon dry oregano (or 2 teaspoons fresh, chopped) 

Method 

1. Rinse chicken and pat dry. Season the chicken pieces on all sides with salt. Heat olive oil in a large skillet on medium heat. Working in batches so that you don't crowd the pan, place the chicken pieces skin side down in the pan. Cook until nicely browned, about 5 minutes, then turn over and lightly brown the other side. Remove chicken to a bowl, set aside. Drain off all but 2 tablespoons of the rendered fat. If you have less than 2 Tbsp of fat in the pan, add more olive oil until you have about that much oil coating the pan.
2. Add the sliced onions, bell peppers, and mushrooms to the pan. Increase the heat to medium high. Cook until the onions are translucent, and the mushrooms have given up most of their moisture, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic to the pan and cook a minute more.
3. Add the wine and scrape up any browned bits at the bottom of the pan. Simmer until the wine is reduced by half. Add the tomatoes. Stir in the pepper, thyme, oregano, and about a teaspoon of salt. Test and taste to adjust. Simmer uncovered for another 5 minutes. Place the chicken pieces on top of the tomatoes and onions, skin side up. Lower the heat and cover the skillet with the lid slightly ajar.
4. Cook the chicken on a low simmer, turning and basting from time to time. Cook until the thighs are tender, about 30 to 40 minutes. 

Yield: Serves 4-6.

Save Christiano's!

I usually have several recipes ready to go (they're the easiest posts to write, of course), and I do have several lined up for the next few Mondays.  However, I learned over the weekend that a local landmark where I grew up is slated to close and, though likely futile, I'd like the opportunity to tell you about it, with the hopes that someone (Billy Joel?, a Syosset High School Class of 1985 alum in Hollywood, with some disposable income? - you know who you are.) can save this local institution.

Christiano's restaurant, reputed, though often disputed, to be the inspiration for Billy Joel's song, "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" is closing its doors after 55 years.  The restaurant, which is now owned by the Singh Hospitality Group, will close soon and be "reinvented" as another restaurant, though not an Italian one.

The restaurant has been an anchor in "town" ever since it opened in 1958.  Syosset residents have been going there for the pizza, the lasagne, the wine, and the atmosphere.  Just a few years ago, when I attempted to organize a high school class reunion - only a few of us were able to make it - but we went there, because it was the right place to go.

My sister had a boyfriend once, who one evening was in Christiano's having dinner when they spotted Billy Joel across the dining room.  He and his friend, knew they had to do something.  They finally decided to sign their autographs on a napkin and went over to Billy Joel and handed it to them, saying something to the effect of, "You're always signing autographs, so we thought you might like ours."  They then turned around and went back to their table.  Billy looked at the autographs, looked over at them, and then got up and went over to talk with them, saying, "I can't believe you guys did that.  That was pretty good."

My father, my siblings and I were at Christiano's a little more than seven years ago.  It was the final weeks of my mother's life (she passed away seven years ago today), and we wanted to all go out together.  We went to Christiano's because it was about family.

So, I was a little sad today on many levels.  I miss my mother.  A lot.  I'm also sad that I'm losing another piece of my youth that is being lost to time.  And I'm a little sad, because I also didn't know what to make for dinner tonight.  But we managed to eat something.

The Price is Right

"HERE IT COMES!  TELEVISION'S MOST EXCITING HOUR OF CASH AND PRIZES!  IT'S THE 60 MINUTE PRICE IS RIGHT!"

When I would stay home sick from school growing up - I would settle in on the couch - with the cable channel box (back in the old days, the "remote" was a push button box attached to the TV with a wire) and assorted drinks and snacks, in time to watch the 10:00 and 10:30 game shows (usually Password and Card Sharks) before tuning to CBS for the Price is Right!

My father used to refer to the show as the "Instant Greed Hour" - this from a man who used to be glued to the Wheel of Fortune.  I always wanted to be on the Price is Right - in my two trips to California the show wasn't taping - so that's something still on my bucket list.

I noted with some amusement this post from BuzzFeed with "13 Things You Probably Didn't Know About the Price is Right."  The list omitted Bob Barker's fear of Samoan women.

1. Vanna White was once a contestant, although she didn't make it up on stage.
2. The wheel was added to the show in 1975
3. Bob Barker grew up on a reservation in South Dakota and is an official member of the Sioux tribe.
4. The very first one-bid prize was a fur coat. Furs were not offered as prizes since that episode, due to Bob Barker's strong belief in animal rights.
5. The show discourages contestants from wearing green shirts because some games use chroma key screens, which can blend into a contestant's shirt.
6. There was once a "Price is Right" wardrobe malfunction.
7. The Big Wheel can BREAK.
8. "Pick A Number," probably the most boring game on the show, requires the contestant to pick a number to fill in a blank spot in the price of the prize they're playing for.
9. One time Snoop Lion - née Dogg - played Plinko, and it was awesome.
10. 74 games are currently rotated on the show. (32 have been retired.)
11. The producers select the contestants based solely on their answers to three questions: your name, where you are from, what you do.
12. One guy got famous by bidding $420 on every prize.
13. The first car offered on the show, a 1972 Chevy Vega, went for $2,746.

Yukon Gold Potatoes

Today was President's Day and the Brave Astronaut Clan celebrated with Mrs. OSG for her birthday with breakfast at the OSG pad.  Then the "federally mandated playdate" took a turn on the bowling lanes.

For the recipe of the day, as noted here a few weeks ago Mrs. BA made a kickass Baked Potato Soup.  Then I saw the New York Times Magazine, which had a feature in it's "What to Eat Right Now" column on Yukon Gold potatoes.  There were 12 recipes on how to fix potatoes.  Here's my favorite.

Pommes Annette

Ingredients

• Two pounds of potatoes
• Butter or oil 

Preparation 
Heat oven to 400. Peel and thinly slice all-purpose potatoes (consider using a food processor). Toss with 3 tablespoons melted butter or oil and neatly layer in a 10- or 12-inch ovenproof skillet. Bake for 30 minutes; slide the cake out onto a plate, cover with another plate, invert it and slide it back into the skillet, with a little more butter or oil if necessary. Continue cooking until potatoes are done and top is browned, 20-25 minutes; cut into wedges.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today is Valentine's Day - the commercial holiday to remind those of us in love that we can buy things for those we love.  Well, I don't need just one day for that - I can do that all the time.  I am very lucky to have Mrs. BA and I love her very much.  I often say that everyone should have what we have, if they did, the world would be a much better place.

We did not go out to eat tonight - it was taco night at the launchpad - though we will have pizza / movie night tomorrow night.  We did have crepes on Tuesday to celebrate Mardi Gras, so we're doing alright.

I found this list of "America's Best Historic Restaurants" a while back (on CNN).  I noted with some surprise that I had been to the first one on the list (it's the only one I've been to).  It's a great place for Washington people watching.

1. Old Ebbitt Grill - Washington DC
2. Keens Steakhouse - New York City
3. Canlis - Seattle
4. Pacific Dining Car - Los Angeles
5. Swan Oyster Depot - San Francisco
6. Jacob Wirth - Boston
7. Cisco's Restaurant Bakery - Austin
8. Commander's Palace - New Orleans (I keep meaning to go here when I'm in NOLA - maybe this year at SAA)
9. Calumet Fisheries - Chicago
10. Ralph's - Philadelphia

Following an outcry from smaller restaurants and cities - CNN came up with a "second helping" of historic restaurants.

1. Columbia - Tampa, FL
2. Louis' Lunch - New Haven, CT (allegedly the birthplace of the hamburger)
3. Samoa Cookhouse - Samoa, CA
4. Brookville Hotel - Abilene, KS
5. Shady Glen - Manchester, CT
6. Cold Spring Tavern - Santa Barbara, CA
7. Red Fox Inn and Tavern - Middleburg, VA
8. Al's Restaurant - St. Louis, MO
9. Chef Vola's - Atlantic City, NJ
10. The Bright Star - Bessemer, AL

What to make for your love on Thursday

Yes Valentine's Day is around the corner - and yes, this post from BuzzFeed is about what to make for Christmas dinner - but surely you can find something here that your significant other might like.

For example, there's this Leg of Lamb recipe (which is what Mrs. BA made for me for my birthday, as lamb is always high on the desired birthday meal list)

Leg of Lamb with Garlic Sauce



Serves 8 generously

for the lamb

• 1 5-pound leg of lamb, bone in (I especially like a long shin bone for presentation) 
• 6 large garlic cloves, slivered 
• 12 anchovy fillets, coarsely chopped 
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 
• 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped 
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, finely chopped 
• sea salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste 

Garlic Sauce

• 24 garlic cloves, peeled, left whole 
• 1 cup dry red wine (such as Côte du Rhône) 
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley (preferably flat-leaf) 

Preparation

1. Have your butcher prepare the meat by removing most of the fat and skin from the leg, and by removing most of the bare bone that protrudes from the leg. If you want a slightly smaller leg, have him (or her!) shorten it from the hip end. When you’re ready to roast it, trim lamb of any excess fat. Make many slits all over the lamb and insert a sliver of garlic and a piece of anchovy in each incision. Finely chop the rosemary and thyme and mix the herbs with sea salt and pepper in a small bowl. Rub the lamb with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and the herb mixture. Let it stand for 1 to 2 hours. 
2. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Place the meat on a rack in a roasting pan, and cook, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees F., and cook for 40 to 45 minutes for medium rare lamb. The temperature on an instant-read thermometer should register 130 degrees F. (That’s how it’s supposed to be!) 
3. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a heavy skillet, and cook the 24 garlic cloves slowly for about 10 minutes, or until they are soft (don’t let the edges get crisp—or brown). Set aside in a small bowl. 
4. Remove lamb to a warmed platter, and turn off the oven. Cover with an aluminum foil tent and set it in the oven to keep warm while you prepare the sauce. On top the stove, put wine into the roasting pan, scraping the bottom well to loosen any brown bits or caramelized juices, and cook the wine over a high flame to reduce it by about one-third. Add the reduced liquid to the garlic cloves. Mash well with a fork, and add sea salt and pepper to taste.
5. Slice the lamb and grind some fresh black pepper over it. Spoon on the sauce, and sprinkle it all with freshly chopped parsley. 
6. There are two wines that pair magnificently with this dish. Not surprisingly, they both come from Provence: Châteauneuf-du-Pape (my favorite is Clos des Pape), and Bandol Rouge (I love those from Domaine Tempier inordinately!) If you are on a budget, a Côte du Rhône will do admirably.

National Girl Scout Cookie Day!

Today is evidently the first National Girl Scout Cookie Day.  To celebrate, BuzzFeed posted a list of Girl Scout items that are available through eBay and Etsy.

I need to get me some boxes of Girl Scout cookies.  If I don't get some soon - I am sure to incur the wrath of my mother.  A friend from home, who was in my mother's girl scout troop, and now leads her own daughter's troop, contacted me to ask me to contribute to Operation Cookie - which is an effort to send cookies to the troops overseas, something I am happy to do.

Recently, LBA had an Oral History project to do for school.  After some discussion, we decided to write the project on my mother - the project called for the individual to have made a difference.  Both Mrs. BA and I helped LBA with the project, providing him with the answers to the questions as to why my mother made a difference in so many girls lives.

So what's on the list?  And how many of them lived in my house growing up (or were brought through my house by girl scouts on their way to an international opportunity)?  Here's my favorite 10.

1. 1960s Official Girl Scout Camera (etsy)
2. Girl Scout Toiletries Bag and Comb (etsy) - I feel like I saw this growing up
3. 1960s Girl Scout Metal Canteen (etsy) - I'm almost positive one of these was around the house
4. Girl Scout Tie Clip (etsy) - if I wore ties more often (or still used tie clips), maybe.
5. Girl Scout Flashlight (etsy) - again, feel like there was one of these around the house
6. 50s/60s Girl Scout Charm Bracelet (etsy) - my mother had a charm bracelet with at least one girl scout charm on it.
7. Vintage Girl Scout earrings (etsy) - my mother had Girl Scout earrings.
8. Girl Scout Handkerchief (etsy)
9. Girl Scout Thermos (ebay)
10. Girl Scout (Brownie) change purse (ebay)

Later this month will be the seventh anniversary of my mother's passing.  I miss her each and everyday.

Another Soup

This recipe comes from my online blogger love (for recipes) - the Smitten Kitchen.  I saw the post here on the list of DIY Cures for the flu (from which I posted last week's Honey, Ginger, Lemon extract).  After the success of Mrs. BA's Baked Potato Soup - I'm throwing this one out there for the next federally mandated playdate - coming up in two weeks!

44-Clove Garlic Soup with Parmesan Cheese 
Adapted from Bon Appetit, February 1999
Serves 4

Ingredients 

• 26 garlic cloves (unpeeled) 
• 2 tablespoons olive oil 
• 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter 
• 2 1/4 cups sliced onions 
• 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme 
• 18 garlic cloves, peeled 
• 3 1/2 cups chicken stock or canned low-salt chicken broth 
• 1/2 cup whipping cream 
• 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese (about 2 ounces) 
• 4 lemon wedges 

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Place 26 garlic cloves in small glass baking dish. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper; toss to coat. Cover baking dish tightly with foil and bake until garlic is golden brown and tender, about 45 minutes. Cool. Squeeze garlic between fingertips to release cloves. Transfer cloves to small bowl.

Melt butter in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onions and thyme and cook until onions are translucent, about 6 minutes. Add roasted garlic and 18 raw garlic cloves and cook 3 minutes. Add chicken stock; cover and simmer until garlic is very tender, about 20 minutes. Working in batches, puree soup in blender until smooth. Return soup to saucepan; add cream and bring to simmer. Season with salt and pepper.

Divide grated cheese among 4 bowls and ladle soup over. Squeeze juice of 1 lemon wedge into each bowl and serve.

Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Rewarm over medium heat, stirring occasionally.

It's the Super Bowl!

Tonight will be the greatest food event after Thanksgiving.  The Super Bowl (Super Bowl 47) will take place in New Orleans featuring the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers.  Of course, the commercials will (hopefully) be worth watching and evidently Beyonce will sing a little at half time.

The Brave Astronaut clan will celebrate in front of the TV watching the game with little hot dogs, nachos, maybe some chicken wings.  There may even be some Pizza Rolls in the freezer that may make an appearance.

I don't think our spread will rise to this level of complexity - but we will eat well.  Maybe Mrs. BA can be convinced to make a Super Bowl cake again.

Here's a selection of special Super Bowl Slow Cooker recipes for your enjoyment.  I personally like the "Easy Potato Casserole."

Slow Cooker Baked Potato Casserole

Ingredients

• 2 baking potatoes, peeled and cut into a large dice 
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 
• 1/2 cup Progresso Creamy Three Cheese Recipe Starter 
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 
• 2 slices bacon 
• 2 tablespoons thinly sliced chives 
• 1 pinch coarse salt

Directions

1. Place the peeled and chopped potatoes in a small slow cooker. Drizzle the oil over the potatoes. Cook on high for 3 hours (or low for 6). 
2. Mash the cooked potatoes with a fork. Add the creamy cheese sauce and stir to combine. Add a pinch of salt and cook an additional hour. 
3. In the meantime, cook the bacon until crispy. Remove from the pan and place on a couple of paper towels to drain. Chop. 
4. Transfer potatoes to an oven-safe serving bowl. Sprinkle the cheese on top and broil for a couple of minutes until browned and bubbly. 
5. Garnish with crumbled bacon and chives. 
6. Serve immediately! 
7. You can always double or triple the recipe for a large crowd, and use a large slow cooker.

It's Casino Night!

Astronaut, Brave Astronaut.  That's me.  Tonight I will be bartending at LBA's school fundraising event, Casino Night.  This year's theme is "Casino Royale," a James Bond themed event.

In addition to beer, wine, and other mixed drinks - I will be serving martinis and three other themed drinks.  Special thanks to Restaurant Gal for the ideas!  RG - you are the best.  Dear readers, if you aren't reading her blog - you should be.

The "Skyfall"

• vodka
• triple sec
• blue curacao
• garnish with a mini marshmallow

The "Thunderball"

• rum
• pineapple juice
• orange juice
• cranberry juice
• splash of grenadine

Bond Gal Punch

• vodka
• sour mix 
• 7-up or club soda
• splash of grenadine

Well It is cold and Flu Season

As you my faithful readers may recall - I was down with a sickness about two weeks ago.  It started over the weekend, I spiked a fever on Monday night, and finally went to the doctor on Thursday evening.  It turned out I had an upper respiratory infection.  Steroids and antibiotics knocked it out of me and I am far down the road to recovery - for now.

Of course, as the father of two and a federal employee, I am constantly exposed to germs - the first because that's what small children do, carry around germs (in fact SoBA went down with a fever on the day I went to the doctor) and the second because well, if you don't have the leave or feel a sense of needing to go to work, you bring your germs with you to the office and share them around.

One of the other benefits of being a federal employee however is getting free flu shots.  Which I did this year - although I learned later it is only about 60% effective this year, and we are in the midst of a pretty bad flu season.  I don't think I had the flu, I think I just got sick.  When I do get sick, I sometimes say that I "feel like a bucket of warm spit."  When I had my infection - I would have loved to feel like warm spit.  It would have been a step up.

I found this BuzzFeed post in my reader a few weeks ago and, had I had the energy - I would have tried several of them to try and feel better.

Honey Ginger Lemon "cocktail"

Don't let cold and flu season knock you for a loop. Stock up on this home cold & flu remedy before the cold weather sets in. It's even delicious when you're feeling great!
For a long time, honey, ginger, and lemon have been recognized for their homeopathic properties. When combined, they make a knock-out remedy against a myriad of ailments. This elixir will relieve many of the symptoms that accompany flu, cold, infection and inflammation. Just check out some of the natural properties of these ingredients:

• Honey: antibacterial, antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral 
• Ginger: antiviral, anti-inflammatory, aids digestion, effective against human respiratory syncytial virus
• Lemon: antiseptic, aids digestion, great source of calcium, magnesium, vitamin C, bioflavonoids 

So you can see how combining these elements will create a tasty treat that will relieve your aches, pains, indigestion, and even help you breathe a little better.

Ingredients:

• Fresh lemon 
• Fresh ginger 
• Raw honey* 

Directions:

• Slice lemon into quarters and pack into jar 
• Grate ginger, and add to lemon (the amount is up to you - the more the better, I say!) 
• While stirring, fill jar with honey 

To Use: Add 1 tablespoon (or more to taste) to hot water and stir This also makes a great holiday or house warming gift! Just add a label with directions and the use-by date. Jar can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 months.

And for a portable version, make your own cough drops!

* Please note: honey is not intended for use by children under 12 months of age.

Baked Potato Soup and Barack Obama

Yesterday was January 20, the day set aside for the quadrennial presidential inauguration.  However, with the day falling on a Sunday, the public events were all set for today.  Further, the United States Constitution [specifically the 20th Amendment] requires the President (and Vice President) to be sworn in before noon on the 20th of January - so both Barack Obama and Joe Biden were sworn into their second terms yesterday.

Today was also the day to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and as such, a "federally mandated playdate" for LBA and some of his friends.  This is a tradition that we began several years ago and it has continued though LBA and his friends are no longer in the same daycare.

So we had some friends over and Mrs. BA decided on soup for lunch for the grownups.  (There had been a chili discussion - but that is the usual go-to dish for these events so she wanted to try something else.)  As has been noted here before, Mrs. BA and I are/were big fans of the Houston's Baked Potato Soup and she wanted to try and replicate it.  She did a really good job.  Then again - how wrong can it be with milk, cheese, butter, and sour cream (and potatoes)?

Here's the recipe she started from.

Houston's Baked Potato Soup
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Serves: 8

This soup is beyond yummy! Your family and friends will love it!

Ingredients

• 5 Medium Russet Potatoes 
• 3 cup Whole Milk 
• 1/2 cup Half and Half 
• 1/2 cup Sour Cream 
• 1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese 
• 1 1/2 teaspoon Chives 
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt or to taste 
• 1/4 teaspoon Fresh Ground Pepper or more to taste 
• 2 1/2 tablespoon Butter 
• 1/4 teaspoon Celery Salt 
• 1 Green Onion Diced 
• 5 Strips of Bacon Diced and Fried Crispy-drain 
• 1 1/4 teaspoon Fennel Seeds 

Instructions
 Wash and scrub potatoes, pat dry. Rub potatoes with butter and place in baking pan, bake at 350 for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until done. Remove from oven and cool slightly. When the potatoes have cooled enough to touch, peel 4 of the potatoes, we will need the skin on the 5th potato. While potatoes are cooling, add fennel seeds to milk and half and half, and scald the milk. Scalding is heating milk at moderated temperature just until boiling point but not boiling and quickly remove from heat. Scalding will keep the mixture from separating. Let milk cool slightly with fennel seeds in mixture. When potatoes or cool enough to work with carefully cut 4 in half and place in a food processor. Potatoes should measure out to 1 1/2 - 2 cups cooked potato. Dice the 5th potato and set aside, leave the potato skins on this potato. To the cooked potato add sour cream, chives, salt, pepper, celery salt and 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon shredded cheddar cheese. Strain the fennel seeds from warm milk and discard seeds, pour milk mixture into food processor and processes 1 1/2 - 2 minutes until smooth. Place mixture into a sauce pan add butter and diced potato stir frequently and simmer on very low setting for about 15 - 20 minutes. When ready to serve ladle into individual bowls and garnish with cheddar cheese, bacon, and green diced onion.